USD signs junior college guard

USD basketball coach Bill Grier said one of his primary offseason objections was to land a combo point/shooting guard.

That search is over. The Toreros have signed former North Idaho (Community) College guard Chris Sarbaugh to a national letter of intent.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Sarbaugh played one season at the community college and will have three years of eligibility at USD. Sarbaugh started 30 of 31 games last season at North Idaho College. He averaged 7.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

“I think (assistant coach) Mike Burns had the best description of him,” said Grier. “He’s a Swiss Army knife. He can do a little bit of everything.

“Chris has real good size. He’s played point (guard) his whole career, but he’s capable of playing the wing. He can get in the lane, get by people. He’s a good finisher around the rim, and he’s a good rebounder.”

Sarbaugh is expected to give the Toreros depth at both guard positions, particularly behind point guard Christopher Anderson, who at 5-7, 140 is sometimes physically overmatched.

In high school, Sarbaugh attended Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, Wash. He was named MVP of the 2011 State 4A Tournament after leading his team to the title.

Sarbaugh redshirted his first year in college while attending Gonzaga.

“The thing that I love about him is he’s a winner,” said Grier. “Watching him, how he ran that (North Idaho College) team, those kids listened to him. You could tell who was running the team.”